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Jenkinson hopeful of proving his worth at Arsenal after comeback

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain staked his claim for more Premier League football with Arsenal against Reading, and Carl Jenkinson is also hopeful he can prove his worth.

While Oxlade-Chamberlain strives for more league outings after scoring both goals in the 2-0 victory, team-mate Jenkinson is happy just to be back involved with the Arsenal first-team.

The right-back made his first appearance for the Gunners in 898 days when he started against Reading, after spending two loan spells at West Ham and having just recovered from a serious knee injury.

Jenkinson, 24, almost marked his return with an early goal having scored on his last Arsenal outing back in May 2014 and now the former Charlton man is striving to remain a part of Wenger’s plans going forward.

“Arsenal is my club,” he said.

“I went out on loan for a couple of years but always in my mind I thought I wanted to perform so I can come back here, I wanted to be good enough and I still want to be good enough to play here.

“I guess I was proving that I can play at this level, or trying to, while I was out on loan.

“I loved my time at West Ham, I played a lot of football, it was fantastic for me, a great club and I enjoyed every minute I had there but it is great for me to be back here now. Arsenal is my club and it is an honour every time I pull on the shirt.”

Asked if he thinks he still has a role to play at Arsenal, Jenkinson replied: “I hope so. We will see won’t we?

“I have just got to keep grafting away, stay fit and play as much as I can and when I get opportunities I have got to take them and who knows? So fingers crossed. Look, I have come back from a nine-month injury and am taking every step as it comes at the moment.”